Kristin at fitbottomedgirls.com was lucky enough to have a sit down w/Shaun T of Insanity and Asylum fame. In honor of today’s Powerade No Excuses Live Workout Tour here it is:

He’s tough, he’s inspiring, and—let’s face it—he’s a hottie. Shaun T has taken the fitness world by storm in the last couple of years, and he (and those abs) show no sign of stopping. Hip Hop Abs and Insanity have just about made him a household name, and with his latest project, The Asylum, set to hit the infomercial circuit this summer, we’re pretty sure we’ll only see more of him.

Not that we’re complaining. Oh, no.

Currently, Shaun T is working with Powerade Zero and doing the rounds on the Zero Excuses Tour, but he found a few minutes to chat with us. And we managed not to giggle like schoolgirls.

Interview with Insanity’s Shaun T

FBG: So, you’re working with Powerade Zero. How did you get involved, and why did you choose this partnership?

ST: The reason I chose to work with Powerade Zero and do the Zero Excuses Tour is that one of the things I try to help people do is lose weight and get better bodies. If you want to lose weight, don’t drink your calories. With Powerade Zero, I can use it as a sports drink, which is great because my workouts are very sports-oriented.When I did an event with Powerade Zero last year, it was a great fit—they support all the things I preach about. They were excited and motivated, just like me. I think it’s just a perfect match.

FBG: I’m told you lost 50 pounds in college, which must’ve been a huge challenge. How do you use the mentality that got you through your weight-loss when facing other obstacles?

ST: In Insanity, the packaging says, “Dig deeper.” People who are overweight, they’re searching for a goal; every number is so important. I was 228 pounds, then I was 215 pounds, and I kept working at it, kept losing weight. As you start to go down the “weight ladder,” it gets harder to keep losing weight. [To get where you want to be] you have to dig deeper—focus and push through.

FBG: Insanity is such a huge success, and it seems to coincide, timing-wise, with the rising popularity of other hardcore workouts like CrossFit. Do you think these workouts appeal to the same types of people? And are they complementary?

ST: I know people who do Insanity every day, six days a week, and they go to the CrossFit box and do a round and see how fit they are. I say no workout is bad; every workout has a beneficial factor. There are certain things I don’t do in my workout, and I do it in CrossFit, and I’m so sore! And then there are things I do in Insanity that really work people who do CrossFit. So, I think they really help each other out.

FBG: As you likely know, a lot of the ladies don’t just love your workouts—they love you. How has that aspect of your job affected your life? You know, being a sex symbol?

ST: The one thing I love about the success of Insanity is that people see me on the street and they’re always so happy. They’ve succeeded at something, and I helped them do that. It’s actually really fun. I really like going to the events when people are like, “Hey, Shaun T, can I feel your abs?” And I’m like, what if my abs aren’t where I want them to be that day?

FBG: That’s motivation right there!

ST: Definitely. The people looking up to me, they hold me accountable. I love it.

FBG: A lot of folks I know have copped to stripping down to their undies to do the Insanity workout. So, let me ask, on behalf of our readers—you’re home or in a hotel room, all alone, and doing a killer workout. What are you wearing?

ST: I am wearing sneakers, socks and my underwear. [Laughs.] When I’m in a hotel room, what’s the point of putting on a pair of shorts and sweating them out? If you’ve got a mirror, you get a good view of your body and what you’re doing when you’re just in your underwear!

As a Fit Bottomed Girl who sweated through lots of shorts before deciding to just do the Insanity workouts in my undergarments, I’m glad to hear Shaun T is right there with me. And his four-word mantra to help us celebrate our four-year birthday? “Be in it to win it!” Okay, so that’s six words with two to grow on. We still heart him. And his abs.

Have you ever done the Insanity workout, and are any of you looking forward to Asylum?

It’s the devil! Avoid caffeine at all costs! Or maybe not? In moderation, a cup of coffee has it’s benefits. Vegans need not fret, there are even non-dairy cruelty-free creamer options. While taking your coffee black may be the best way to absorb all the benefits, having your coffee with some vegan non-daily creamer based on coconut milk, almond milk, or soy milk may really up the enjoyment.

Flavonols, catechins, antioxidants, energy, and more! Before a workout a cup of joe can help you perform longer, harder, faster, and with more accuracy. The reduction in fatigue from this energy boost can help you exercise harder, lift heavier, perform more reps, you get the idea. Whether you’re interested in burning more fat, building more muscle, or increasing your endurance it seems that some good organic fair-trade coffee can help you get more from your exercise.

The caffeine in coffee can even help you feel better about your workout. When you feel good about your workout you’re more likely to exercise again, right? Anything that can help motivate you to continue your fitness regimen is a good thing in my book!

Lululemon, Athleta, VSX, Lucy, Black & Gold, Body By Brazil, BodyUp I could fill up the whole blog with the list of companies getting with the program. I got to thinking about it while sweating it out to Chalene Johnson’s ChaLEAN Extreme. Check out those faboosh star earrings! OMG, want!

So you’re dedicated to fitness. Each day you’re getting active sweating it out. If you’re in a gym running the hamster wheel, I mean treadmill, you get to looking around due to boredom and you realize your outfit could use an upgrade. Strutting your stuff around South Beach as I do workout outfits are seen all year round. So just how important is it to look good?

Very! Why? Much of my workout routine is done solo and indoors. Does Shaun T and his Insanity Team need to see me look cute? Will Chalene care if I show up to class in a well put together getup? Of course not. But I WILL! That is the most important thing here. It’s not about impressing others it is about impressing yourself. If dressing up in something you feel great in helps you to push play each day, then do it. If investing in some new outfits will encourage you to gear up every day and get moving, then do it.

Nobody can do the work for you but you. True lasting change must be done by you. Recommit continually and do it for you and others will follow. Results will follow. Happiness will follow.

I love oxymorons. From jumbo shrimp to airline food my unbiased opinion is that these are seriously funny. How’s that for a sentence full of gems?

Really though, it is not only possible to transform your body on a vegan diet it can bring you to levels you only dreamed possible. And you certainly don’t have to be a bodybuilder, either. Plant based diets give your body the fuel you need to perform without the extra fat, cholesterol, and other junk that slows you down.

How do I get enough protein, you ask? Easy! These common plant foods go beyond tofu and tempeh – try beans, broccoli, seitan, and quinoa. Another benefit? Dollars to donuts, they’re all far less expensive than animal proteins, too.

Check out the new Vegan Health and Fitness magazine for more here or on the shelves at Whole Foods: